Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-12-15
sWould you explain your meaning

81 mean," said Mr.. Blaine, sthat no
great system of revenue like our tariff
can operate with efficiency and equity
unless the changes of trade be closely
watched and the law promptly adapted
to these changes. But would make no
change that should impair the protective
character of the whole body of the tariff
laws. Four years ago, in the act of 1888,
we made changes of the character I have
tried to indicate. If such changes were
made and the fortifying of our seacoast
thus undertaken at very moderate an
nual outlay, no surplus would be found
after that already accumulated had been
disposed of. The outlay of money on
Notifications, while doing great service
to the country, would give good work to
many men,"
''But what about the existing surplus?"
"The abstract of the message l have
SEEN" replied Mr.. Blaine, contains no
reference to that point. [ therefore
make no comment further than to en-
dorse Mr.. Fred. Grants remark that
surplus is always easier to handle than
deficit"
The reporter repeated the question
whether the presidents recommends
ton, if adopted, would not give US the
advantage of large increase in exports.
81 only repeat" answered Mr.. Blaine,
" that it would vastly enlarge our i'm
ports, while the only export it would
seriously increase would be our gold and
silver. That would flow bounteously,
just as it did under the tariff of 1916.
The presidents recommendation enacted
into this law would result, as did an ex-
pertinent in drainage, of man who
wished to turn a swamp into prOduc-
tive field. He dug drain to a neigh
boring river, but it happened, unfortun
ately, that the level of the river was
higher than the level of the swamp.
The consequence need not be told. A
parallel would be found when the presi-
dents policy, in attempting to open
channel for an increase of exports,
should simply succeed in making way
for deluging inflow Of fabrics to the de-
struction of home industry"
'But don't you think it important TO
increase our export trader"
Undoubtedly; but it is vastly more
important not to lose our own great
market for our own people in a vain eff
fort to reach the impossible. 1t is not
our foreign trade that has caused the
wonderful growth and expansion of the
republic. 1t is the vast domestic trade
between thirty eight states and eight
territories, with a population Of perhaps
62,000,000 to-day. The whole amount
of our export and import trade together
never, l think, reached $1,90O,O00 in
any one year. Our internal home trade
on 10000 miles of railway, along $1,000
miles of ocean coast, over the five great
lakes and along 10000 miles of naviga
BILE rivers, reaches the enormous annual
aggregate of more than $40,O00,O00,0 1000,
and perhaps this year $50, 0O0,O00,000.
1t is into this illimitabie trade, even now
in its infancy and destined to attain a
magnitude not dreamed of twenty years
ago, that the Europeans are struggling TO
enter. 1t is the heritage of the American
people, of their children and of their
children's children. It gives an absolute
ly free trade over territory nearly as
large as all Europe, and the profit is all
our one. The genuine free-trader ap
pears unable to see Or comprehend
that this continental trade not our ex-
changes with Europe-is the great source
of our prosperity. President Cleveland
now plainly proposes policy that will
admit Europe to share of this trade"
"But you are in favor of extending our
ia o@soi oAoloOs cIC yOu uOG!
Certainly am, in all practical and
advantageous ways, but not on the prin
cipal of the free traders, by which we
shall be constantly exchanging dollar for
dime. Moreover, the foreign trade is often
very deluslve. Cotton is manufactured
in the city of my residence. IF box of
cotton goods is sent 200 miles to the pro-
vince of New Brunswick, it is foreign
oh
Cape Horn to Washington territory it is
domestic trade. The magnitude of the
union and the immensely of its internal
trade require new political economy.
Treatises written for the European states
do not grasp our peculiar situation"
'How will the presidents message be
taken in the south?"
81 don't dare answer that question
The south he's been so long obscured by
certain local questions and unreasoning
prejudice that nobody can hope for in
dustrlal enlightenment among their
leaders. But in my view the south,
above all sections of the union, needs
protective tariff. The Two Virginias,
North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, Ten
nous resources and facilities for develop
oaA uIdC6uT0S. Lu0y
cannot do anything without protection.
Even the progress SO vast as some of
those state have made will be checked if
the presidents message is enacted into a
law. The senators and representatives,
can prevent it, but they are SO used to
following anything labeled Democratic"
that probably they will follow the presi
dent and blight the progress already
made.
"By the time rome of the southern
states get free iron ore and coal, while
tobacco is taxed, they may have occa-
sion to sit down and calculate the value
of democratic free trade in their local
interests"
"Will not the presidents recommends
ton to admit raw material find strong
support?"
mot by wise protectionists in our
time. Perhaps some greedy manufac-
turers may think that with free coal or
free iron ore they can do great things,
but if they should succeed in trying they
will, as the boys say, catch it on the re
bound. If the home trade in raw mate
rial is destroyed or seriously injured, the
mil he 70 81